Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

     

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White

Series: Paranormalcy #2
Pages: 336

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 5th 2012 (UK)
Source: For Review
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #1

A lot has changed in the six months since Evie escaped from the International Paranormal Containment Agency with her shape-shifter boyfriend, Lend. She finally has the blissfully normal life she’s always dreamed of including: 
1) A real live high school 
2) A perfectly ordinary after-school job 
3) Her very own locker (and by the way, rusted metal is every bit as awesome as she imagined) 

But Evie’s not-so-normal past keeps creeping up on her...and things get pretty complicated when you factor in: 
1) A centuries-old, seriously decaying vampire stalker 
2) A crazy faerie ex-boyfriend who is the perpetual bearer of really bad news 
3) A major battle brewing between the faerie courts where the prize in question happens to be...Evie herself. 

So much for normal.

Paranormalcy spoilers but spoiler free for Supernaturally

I adored Paranormalcy. Evie is such a fun character and I couldn't wait to catch up with her. Evie is living out the normal life she wanted but it has become slightly monotonous and has lost the appeal it once had. Raquel offers Evie a job at IPCA with the freedom she lacked the last time. With Evie wanting to reconnect with her other life whilst not hurting Lent, her life is anything but simple. It also seems that she is being targeted but why and who are a complete mystery.

Evie had the same spunk she did in Paranormalcy. She is a flawed character but that is what makes her so relatable. Her need to keep secrets to not hurt Lend's feelings is wrong but understandable. The relationship between the two is so nice to read about, despite that there are a few problems. 

The thing I love most about this series is that it is so unique. It isn't a typical  paranormal. This book also didn't have second book syndrome. It has the same fun as the first and White did not get Lend and Evie to do the big, predictable, break up because, you know, what else is there to do? It wasn't a romance, it has so many other elements.

The ending was a complete shock to me. I was kept in suspense the whole novel and I love it when that happens. I am really interested to see how the trilogy is going to the end. The ending wasn't a cliffhanger which was nice. I am just excited to see more Evie and Lend :)

Review: The Haunting of Charity Delafield by Ian Beck

    

Title: The Haunting of Charity Delafield
Author: Ian Beck

Series: Standalone
Pages: 281

Publisher: Bodley Head (Random House)
Release Date: November 3rd 2011 (UK)
Source: For Review
Rating: 4 stars

A magical, enchanting tale, with stunning illustrations that will transport you into another world. 

Flame-haired Charity Delafield has grown up in a vast, isolated house - most of which she is forbidden to explore - with her fiercely strict father. With only her kindly nurse, Rose, and her cat Mr Tompkins for company, she knows very little of the outside world - or of her own family's shadowy past. What she does know is that she is NEVER to go outside unsupervised. And she is NEVER to over-excite herself, because of the mysterious 'condition' that she has been told she suffers from. 

But Charity has a secret. All her life, she has had the same strange dream - a dream of a dark corridor, hidden somewhere in the house. Then, one day, Charity stumbles across the corridor. It leads to a door . . . and suddenly she realises things are not quite what they seem.

I don't really read middle grade novels but I have to say The Haunting of Charity Delafield was a pleasant surprise. It was full of suspense, action and mystery and there was a quick pace from the beginning. It was sweet and refreshing and such an enjoyment to read.

Charity's father prevents Charity leaving their home or even exploring the ground due to her "condition" in an attempt to protect her. His overbearing ways heighten Charity's curiosity about the secrets he is keeping from her about her "condition" and her mother who is claimed to be dead.

I was gripped right from the start and swept away with the mystery along with Charity. Charity was a loveable character. She was sweet and good natured but not without some mischief. I loved reading about her adventures even if they didn't even well.

The secondary characters were really fun to read about. I loved Silas, the chimney sweep and Mrs Browne, the cook. I felt like I really got to know them and they had something to add to the story.

The mystery was written perfectly and I was unsure of what was going to be discovered. The ending was a complete surprise and went in a different direction than I expected. Nevertheless it was a perfect ending.

The Haunting of Charity Delafield was a lovely surprise and I am so glad I read it. I definitely think I will be reading some more middle grade novels in the future.

Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

      

Title: The Future of Us
Author: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Series: Standalone
Pages: 356

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: January 5th 2012 (UK)
Source: For Review
Rating: 4.5 stars

It's 1996 and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Facebook will not be invented for several more years. Emma just got a computer and an America Online CD-ROM with 100 free hours. When she and her best friend Josh log on to AOL they discover themselves on Facebook... fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what life has in store for them. 

Josh and Emma are about to find out.

I adored Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why and I could not wait to devour The Future of Us. The premise is incredible and I have to say, the book lived up to my high expectations.

Emma just received a new PC from her father and whilst logging on to AOL she sees a facebook page of her life 15 years into the future. Emma and best friend Josh find out how changing the present changes not only their own but other's future lives.

I liked Emma. She was a little superficial at times but the thing I liked about Emma was her growth. She may not have started out perfect, nor did she end up the perfect person but she learnt from her mistakes and grew as a person. There was wonderful character development there.

Josh was amazing. He was sweet and sincere and I really liked reading his chapters. I have been reading a lot of boy and girl friendships with a touch of something more and I love them. I think friendship growing into romance is a wonderful thing to read about. it is not a direct, easy path for Josh and Emma though and the ending was a nice touch and not quite was I was expecting.

The concept must be addressed. I don't know how well the book will do ten, twenty, thirty years down the road but I think it has a perfect place in YA now. It has the nostalgia factor for those who remember when you couldn't use the internet and the phone at the same time and when mobile phones were a luxury. It was a nice reality check to remember that there was a world before technology took over.


Another thing I loved about the novel was the writing. The cohesive nature of the writing and the seamless transition between Emma and Josh was incredible. I couldn't tell who wrote what. I assumed that Carolyn wrote Emma and Jay wrote Josh but I couldn't tell. It could have been written by one amazing author.

The Future of Us rocked my world and I am so glad to have read it. I will definitely be reading some of Carolyn Mackler's novels now and of course I will   never stop reading Jay Asher's works. Highly recommended.

Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

         

Title: Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Hush, Hush #2
Pages: 427

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: October 14th 2010 (UK)
Source: For Review
Rating: 4 stars

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. 

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something. 

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Crescendo was a pleasant surprise for me. I enjoyed Hush, Hush but it didn't live up to the hype for me. Crescendo, however, was a lot more enjoyable.

I found the plot captivating and quick paced. It was full of mystery and suspense and I loved that.

Patch was more appealing to me in Crescendo. He wasn't perfect but he felt less creepy for sure. Nora was a little annoying at times but I generally liked her.

All in all I thought Crescendo was a better read than Hush, Hush. A quick read with lots of twists and turns!

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

      

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Series: Shiver #1
Pages: 434
Publisher: scholastic 
Release Date: October 5th 2009 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 4 stars

Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.

I am very late on the Shiver bandwagon. I have been hearing great things about this book for months. I attempted to read it earlier in the year but I was in a reading funk and gave up. I am very glad I picked it up again. I can't say I loved it but it was a very enjoyable read.


It started off a little slow for me unfortunately. I didn't see what the hype was about. As I got further in it picked up and I was reading 50-60 pages without even noticing. It dipped in and out, slowing down and speeding up. Some parts of the novel I just had to push through.


The characters were the highlight for me. I loved both Grace and Sam and their relationship together. This is what a good paranormal romance is like. I can't really say there wasn't instalove because there kind of is but it isn't the traditional type for they have known each other for a long time, just not in the conventional sense. There were steamy moments but their relationship was based on love, not lust. That was very important to me.


The secondary characters were also fabulous. I loved Isobel. She was Hi-freaking-larious. She is just so funny without being to be. The characters, even the less frequent ones, were well developed and stood out.


The writing was good. It had a really natural flow and the poetic nature of it was just breathtaking at times. I am definitely interested to pick up her other series purely because of the writing.


The ending was semi expected yet not at the same time. I sort of had two ideas of where the ending would go and it did go one of the ways I expected. The getting there though was the interesting bit and not so expected after all.


The book was good. Some parts were a little on the slow side but some parts just completely captivated me. I am definitely doing to be reading the next instalment Linger.

Review: The lying Game by Sara Shepard

   

Title: The Lying Game

Author: Sara Shepard

Series: The Lying Game #1
Pages: 307
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: March 31st 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 4.5 stars

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

I LOVED this book so much. I have only read the first in the Pretty Little Liars series but I have to say I much prefer this one. Why? I can't quite tell you. I liked being able to get to know Emma and Sutton really well as they are the only two main characters. 

The narration was extremely unique. It was written in Sutton, the dead twins, point of view. It felt like a mix between first and third person as it was a third person narration of Emma yet a first person narration from Sutton. I thought this was cleverly done and it incorporated Sutton's reactions to Emma's discoveries about her life.

The plot was full of mystery and surprises. The drip drip of information of Sutton's life and how she died kept me on edge and made me keep reading. It was done very effectively. 

The characters were all really great. Sutton's group of friends revealed a lot about Sutton's character and the life she led. They also developed the plot and really added an extra dimension. Ethan was also a lovely edition to the story!

The ending was good. It left off at a good place and had enough surprises to keep me intrigued for the next book. I was surprised by some aspects of the ending yet it seemed plausible in the novel.

The book was great overall and I am so intrigued to read the next book Never Have I Ever.

Revview: A Small Free Kiss In The Dark by Glenda Millard

     

Title: A Small Free Kiss In The Dark
Author: Glenda Millard
Series: None
Pages: 218
Publisher: Templar Publishing 
Release Date: May 1st 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 3 stars

Two young boys, an old tramp, a beautiful teenage dancer, and the girl's baby--ragtag survivors of a sudden war--form a fragile family, hiding out in the ruins of an amusement park. As they scavenge for good, diapers, and baby formula, they must stay out of sight of vicious gangs and lawless soldiers. At first they rely on Billy, the only adult in the group. But as civil life deteriorates, Billy starts to fall apart. Skip, who is barely into his teens, must take over and lead them on a search for sanctuary. This complex and haunting exploration of life on the edge and what it takes to triumph over adversity is a story about the indomitable nature of hope.

A Small Free Kiss In The Dark is a sweet book about a boy who doesn't have a place in the world but finds a place under extraordinary circumstances.


Skip, a young boy narrates the story. He has an innocent yet tainted view of life, making his narration seem very sincere. He is sweet and kind and I grew attached to him. Billy, his older companion is sweet too and their relationship is very touching.


The plot was a little slow and not much seemed to happen. The book focused more on a child's view on the world during war and his interactions with people. It isn't fast paced or active. It is mellow and slow, unravelling slowly, discovering more about the characters with each turn of the page. 


The ending was sad but a perfect ending to the book. It summed up the world they were living in. Devastation with a little hope.


The book wasn't hugely memorable and at times hard to get into. That being said if you are looking for a book based on characters and don't mind a slow plot then I'm sure you will enjoy this!

Review: Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

       
Title: Withering Tights
Author: Louise Rennison
Series: Misadventures of Tallulah Casey #1
Pages: 351
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 2nd 2010
Source: For review
Rating: 3 stars

Wow. This is it. This is me growing up. On my own, going to Performing Arts College. This is good-bye, Tallulah, you long, gangly thing, and hellooooo, Lullah, star of stage.

Tallulah Casey is ready to find her inner artist. And some new mates. And maybe a boy or two or three.

The ticket to achieving these lofty goals? Enrolling in a summer performing arts program, of course. She's bound for the wilds of Yorkshire Dales—eerily similar to the windswept moors of Wuthering Heights. Tallulah expects new friends, less parental interference, and lots of drama. Acting? Tights? Moors? Check, check, check.

What she doesn't expect is feeling like a tiny bat's barging around in her mouth when she has her first snog.

Bestselling author Louise Rennison returns with her trademark wit, a hilarious new cast, and a brand-new cheeky heroine who is poised to discover plenty of opportunities for (mis)adventure!

I'm not too sure where to start. I read the book in two days and to be fair I don't really have a bloody clue what even happened. It was absolutely barmy. The things Tallulah gets up to is borderline ridiculous but amusing none the less. I did enjoy it but I can't really wrap my mind around what actually happened.

Tallulah is eccentric, mad and just darn crazy. She is always getting caught up into some sort of drama whether it be getting caught watching a couple snog or Irish dancing. She acts like a fourteen year old which is good. She had insecurities about her knobbly knees and worries about her first kiss as most teenage girls do. Tallulah is the basis for most teenage girls with a heap of crazy mixed in. 

Some things Tallulah did were a little crazy for my liking and her actions were questionable. She is also a little hypocritical in some parts which I didn't like. It didn't bother me too much though.

I did get very immersed in the book. I read it quickly and did enjoy it when I read it. It is a quick read about a teenager trying to find her place in the world. I wouldn't call her a role model but she  can show girls that they aren't alone in their insecurities and that everyone has them. 

I'm not too sure how I feel about this book. Whilst reading the book I didn't really have any problems with it. It was only when I thought about the book did I notice the things I didn't like too much of it. The is probably better suited for younger teens as they will probably find it more relatable. Overall it was a light, quick read that left no impressions on me. 

Review: One Seriously Messed-Up Week: in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samonsite by Tom Clempson

         Title: One Seriously Messed-Up Week: in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samonsite
Author: Tom Clempson
Series: 1st in a series
Pages: 407
Publisher: Atom
Release Date: June 2nd 2011
Source: From Atomics

Our hero?
Jack Samsonite
His mission?
1) pass his GCSEs
2) get the girl (to notice he exists)
3) survive the week without a serious face punching
Good thing he’s got a plan. Well, half a plan…

I almost have no words for this book. It has to be the strangest, most peculiar book I have ever read. I go to all girls school so I don't know if it is an accurate representation of boys in a mixed school but if it is...WOW. It was certainly amusing.

This book will not be liked by everyone. There is swearing, there is toilet talk. There are plenty of things people will turn their noses up at. I will admit if someone offered me a book, saying it contained mentions of whether you wipe your behind standing up or sitting down I would politely decline. However, the book just felt so normal and so real that I was completely swept away with it.

Jack was very funny. He doesn't have the greatest school life and I love him for that. His uncool nature and the embarrassing embarrassing situations he gets himself into makes for a great novel. As a character he is highly entertaining and someone who just made me smile. His friend James. AWESOME. That is all I have to say about him!

It doesn't seem like it had much of a plot but I don't feel it is hugely about a standardised beginning, middle and end. It is about Jack's (eventful) week. Not much happens. It isn't an action packed book. It isn't intended to be. It is a nosey into Jack's life and to be honest it is highly entertaining.

The ending had me so surprised. I was questioning my gut, jumping back and forth between my conclusions and my gut failed me. I was completely and utterly shocked! I love it when a book shocks me!

This book is hilarious. It is not for everyone but if you like a good laugh, don't mind some swearing and crude conversations this book is for you. If you like the Inbetweeners you will love this!

Review: Virals by Kathy Reichs

         
    

Title: Virals

Author: Kathy Reichs

Series: Virals #1

Pages: 454

Publisher: Arrow

Release Date: November 2nd 2010 (UK)

Source: From Publisher

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever. 

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

I have never read anything by Kathy Reichs before but my sister read her adult crime series. My sister and I have different tastes so I was unsure whether I would like this. I shouldn't have worried. The book was full of action, drama and mystery and I loved that!


Tory was a kickass main character. She was fearless and brave but despite that she had a soft side. Her group of friends were a huge part of the story and I liked them all. They all felt unique and individually crafted. With Tory being the only female in their group the dynamic was great. Tory's father Kit was very funny. The relationship between Tory and himself was awkward which made for some very funny scenes.


The plot was unusual. The idea of contracting a disease that can make you semi wolf, semi human  was really interesting. Despite it being far-fetched it was written in a realistic way, making me believe it could really happen (scary thought!). The discovery of the murder was a nice touch as I feel the virus on its own wouldn't have been substantial. The murder mystery had me guessing right up until the very end!


Tory's voice was what really drew me in. Her narration was captivating and she definitely had the essence of a teenage girl. I always like it when you feel like you are connecting with someone your own age. She was very relatable (up until the wolf DNA thing). 


The ending was a little far fetched for me. Some things seemed too far out of the realms of possibility. It didn't bother me too much, however. The ending on a broader scale was a nice end to the novel.


Virals is filled with action, mystery and danger and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

Review: Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Title: Sixteenth Summer
Author: Michelle Dalton
Series: None
Pages: 320
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: May 3rd 2011
Source: eGalley from S&S Galley Grab


Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.
But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn't even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking….

This was a really sweet book. It took me only 2 days to read and I have to say I really enjoyed it.  The characters were likeable, the setting was perfect and it was just a perfect summer read. A little predictable at times but I like that from a romance.

Anna and Will's meeting has got to be one of my favourites ever. It was this instant attraction but it was so awkward. It felt so real and was really amusing to watch. Their romance, as it grew, was just as entertaining and I just wanted them to be happy.

Anna is a sweet girl that I really connected with. She was kind and nice and just sweet. That being said, she had flaws, like all good characters do. Will was a great love interest and they worked well together in a relationship.

Now, the ending. I rather liked it. To be honest I don't remember too much about the details but I remember being content with it. I felt it was fitting for the book and had been planned out by the author.

The book isn't amazing by any means. There is nothing hugely unique but that seems so irrelevant. It was a light, quick beach read and I got everything I wanted from it!

Review: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Title: Blood Magic
Author: Tessa Gratton
Series: The Blood Journals #1
Pages: 406
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: July 7th 2011 (UK)
Source: ARC from publisher



This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It's a natural next-read for fans of Stephanie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth, and immortality.

Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can't stop thinking about her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What's a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? And then there's Nick—the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.


Blood Magic felt incredibly unique. Yes, magic has been done before but it felt like a completely different spin on it. The book was edgy, dark and sexy. It was like nothing I have read before. It was a mystery with history and secrets and almost everything I need in a novel.


The characters were wonderful. I really connected with Silla and I could empathise with her. She was a brave character who had been through a lot which made me admire her strength. Her brother Reese was a character I really connected with. Nick, Silla's love interest was a bit of a bad boy and I have to say I really liked him. 


Unfortunately for me the romance between Silla and Nick didn't do much for me. It was sexy, yes but I felt like there was only lust, no like or love behind it all. I just didn't really get it. That being said I did enjoy the chemistry between them.


The plot was intriguing. There was a complete mystery to unravel and I felt so involved watching Silla, Nick and Reese discover what was going on. The dual narrative between Silla and Nick really added to the plot and gave an extra dimension to the novel. I was shocked by a lot of the surprises thrown my way and I love it when that happens.


The ending wasn't too much a cliffhanger but that was good. I felt there had been enough twists and turns within the body of the novel to end slightly calmer. It still leaves a little wonder to what will happen in the next book and I will definitely be picking the second book up!


I am having a 250 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY for this book as well as two others. 

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Title: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Pages: 344
Release Date: May 5th 2011 (UK)
Source: For Review


DIE FOR ME is the first of three books about Kate, a sixteen-year-old American who moves to Paris after the death of her parents. It introduces a new version of the undead with revenants, beings who are fated to sacrifice themselves over and over again to save others’ lives. Kate finds herself falling for Vincent, who she discovers is not the typical French teenager he appears: he is something else entirely.

DIE FOR ME presents a new supernatural mythology presented in a city where dreams are sometimes the same as reality.


What can I say? I totally loved this book. I have never been an avid fan of paranormal romances. I feel everything is too sudden and just fake. Die For Me felt like a whole new take on the undead.

First of all I loved the concept of the revenants instead of vampires or zombies. It felt very original and I will admit to having no idea what they actually were. I don’t want to give anything away but it was a really interesting take on paranormal.

I liked Kate a lot. I thought she was interesting and despite her parents dying she wasn’t too distraught that she wasn’t able to engage me. Vincent, the love interest was superb. I thought he was mysterious, sexy and yes, French! I was really intrigued by him and his involvement in the revenant world.

The additional characters were good too. I liked Kate’s sister Georgia. I really respected her relationship with her sister. I did find her to be a little irresponsible at times but that can be overlooked. Similar to Twilight there were a collection of revenants at the house where Vincent lived that has been found and saved so to speak. Yes, a little twilightesque but it didn’t bother me. They were all really interesting and brought something interesting to the novel.

The plot was a good pace. I enjoyed it from the beginning as Vincent got me really curious. I got more and more drawn in as the plot went along and I really enjoyed what I was discovering. It is full of action; swordfights, villains, kicking bad guy butt! I enjoyed it immensely.

The ending wasn’t too cliffhanger-y which I liked. It was a nice, simple ending after a climax so I felt it was suitable. I am very excited to read the next instalment which it comes out.

If you want a different kind of paranormal romance then I think this is the book for you! It made me love it all over again!

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han Review

Title: It's Not Summer Without You
Author: Jenny Han
Pages:277
Release Date: May 5th 2011 (UK)
Source: For Review


Last year, all of Belly’s dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change-- just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. And when Jeremiah calls to say Conrad has disappeared, Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting him go.


Just a heads up, if you haven't read The Summer I Turned Pretty then there are spoilers.


If you read my review of The Summer I Turned Pretty you will know that it was very emotional for me. Well this book is that x1000. In the last book we learn that Susannah has cancer again and the book starts with addressing her death. The grief was at the very start and had me bawling throughout the whole novel. 


Belly, distraught with grief, takes Susannah's death hard. She finds it difficult to deal with the fact that everything has changed. She can no longer spend summers at the beach house as she did before. It was painful to see her have to go through that after seeing how close she was to Susannah. I really felt for her throughout the novel and I just wanted her to be happy. She made some choices that I definitely didn't agree with but I could understand them.


Conrad just pulled at my heartstrings in this book. He was a complete jerk throughout the book and I just wanted to shake him and make him realise that his life was not over. Some of the things he did (or nearly did) were so sweet and sincere that I just wanted him all for myself. I was very sad to see Conrad and Belly having to deal with the long distance and the effect that had on them.


Jeremiah is just lovely still. It was nice to see his and Belly's friendship and they go to look for Conrad. I would love him as a best friend. He is protective and kind and caring and yes, a very sweet boy. But maybe he is a little too nice for me..


The plot took me a whole new direction to what I was expecting. There were still plenty of flashbacks (which in this series I love). It really padded out the story and made everything make a lot more sense. I also love how this book was still set in summer with just the flashback, despite the flashbacks being so key. It emphasised how much had changed since the summer before.


The ending did not fully satisfy me, but that is okay. There were hints that the next book was going to provide the deciding factor. To be fair there can never be a bad ending of this series, that's what makes it that much better. 


Overall, it was incredibly emotional, I finished in one night. I just couldn't put it down. A sappy romance novel it is not. It is full of such emotion that can't help but draw you in and keep you fascinated and you watch their summer. 


P.S if you have read the book then you will know what I am talking about. I so want that necklace. Being a total maths geek I am so in love!